The Indiana House passed a bill Tuesday banning transgender women from women’s sports at the collegiate level days after the NCAA amended its transgender athlete policy to align with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
State Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, authored House Bill 1041 prohibiting a male, based on the student’s biological sex at birth, from participating on a women’s athletic team. The bill also allows for a student or parent to file a grievance if a college isn’t following the law.
“Ensuring fairness in collegiate sports is essential to protecting opportunities for female collegiate athletes,” Davis said. “House Bill 1041 helps maintain a level playing field and a safe environment for the female collegiate athletes in Indiana.”
LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County issued a statement on House Bill 1041 to “express our outrage about this bill rife with discrimination,” and the message it sends to transgender youth.
“Transgender kids, like other students, deserve the same chances to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and self-discipline, and to build a sense of belonging with their peers. When we tell transgender girls that they can’t play girls’ sports — or transgender boys that they can’t play boys’ sports — they miss out on this important childhood experience and all the lessons it teaches.”
The bill passed out of the House in a 71-25 vote, with four Democrats supporting the bill. Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, voted in favor of the bill.
During second reading Monday, Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, proposed an amendment to include language about funeral expenses of a student who dies by suicide. It failed 28-67.
Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, proposed a second reading amendment to allow colleges to set their own policy regarding student participation in sports. It failed 30-66.
NCAA President Charlie Baker told a U.S. Senate Committee in December that fewer than 10 student-athletes were transgender. On Feb. 7, the day after an executive order signed by Trump, the NCAA changed its policy to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports.
Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis, said the bill doesn’t improve the lives of Hoosiers and it isn’t about fairness in sports or protecting opportunities for athletes. The bill addresses a “manufactured culture war issue.”
Through the bill, the legislature would be “micromanaging” college sports as if it were a “state-wide athletic commission,” Johnson said.
“This bill creates division. It stokes fear of people you might not understand. It further alienates and ostracizes an already deeply vulnerable population,” Johnson said.
Rep. Chris Campbell, D-West Lafayette, said if the bill becomes law it will lead to an increase in hate and violence against transgender athletes. Students, especially transgender students, build higher self-esteem and see physical and mental health benefits from participating in sports.
“This bill offers to solve a problem in Indiana that doesn’t exist in Indiana,” Campbell said. “The message that this bill sends terrifies parents and individuals who don’t conform.”
Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, said the legislature already voted to ban transgender athletes from K-12 girls’ sports. The legislature voted on the bill in 2022, but former Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed the bill. The legislature met in special session in May 2022 to override the veto.
Carbaugh said House Bill 1041 would take the K-12 bill one step further.
“1041 does not bar anyone from playing in sports. You have to just play in the sports league that matches your biology,” Carbaugh said.
The bill advances to the Senate.